Movie Review - Kinds of Kindness

Make no mistake, this movie is not for the squeamish or meant for most audiences.  It is a surreal, dark comedy which might be best categorized in the psychological horror genre.  It runs the gamut as to what might disturb the movie-goer including murder, suicide, sexual assault, animal cruelty, cannibalism, etc.  As such, movie fans should consider themselves forewarned.

As for me, I have a decent tolerance for films of this genre, but I was somewhat disappointed with this one.  To be sure, my expectations were extremely high as I truly enjoyed “Poor Things”.  In this movie, the same director, Yorgos Lanthimos, teams up again with some of the same former cast members such as Willem Dafoe and Emma Stone.  The movie is comprised of three distinct stories which are very loosely linked together.  In any case, I sensed that the director was continually trying to push the audience to the brink, but he actually seemed to push us over it.  For example, while disturbing and graphic images can be integral in the formation of a plot, he seems to introduce these elements simply to shock us.

7:42●●● 95%

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Nevertheless, the inclusion of overly-disturbing elements is not my biggest criticism.  The film appears to lack a cohesive plot and sense of purpose.  I left the theater thinking, “What the ‘Sam Hill’ was that all about?” Perhaps if I “binge watched” it several times, I might be able to cobble the plot together – not sure.  In any case, I can only hazard guesses as what might be the central message being conveyed.  Or maybe the point is that there is no point and that love/life is essentially meaningless.  As Shakespeare framed it, “Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Finally, the movie is not a complete bust, primarily because of the outstanding acting performances.  Once, again, Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe do not disappoint.  Most noteworthy is probably Jesse Plemons whose performance could likely land him a Best Actor nomination in next year’s Oscars.

Grade: C+

Plot A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual g...